Harvester combine



June 10, 1941. 1, E MERCE 2,245,081

HARVESTER COMBINE HARVESTER COMBINE Filed May 11,r 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. Pierce June l0, 1941.' J, E, p15-RCE l 2,245,081

HARVESTER -COMBINE I Filed May 11, 1959 5 sheets-sheet s 9 @3 @2 a Y @i er' as, I

ya@ www June 10, 1941. .1. E. PlERcE HARVESTER COMBINE j Filed May 11, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 @www rllllllll l J E #Pierce June 10, 1941,.v 1 E PlERCE 2,245,081

' HARVESTER COMBINE Filed May 11, 19:59 5 sheets-Sheet 5 Pierce- Aatented: `lune 1Y0,

maori HARVESTER COMBINE John E. Pierce, Denton, N. C., assignor of onehalf to Charles C. Hoover, Denton, N. C.

Application May 11, 1939, Serial No. 273,104

Claims.

"Ihis invention relates to an improved harwester combine.

One of the principal objects of the invention iis to provide a harvester combine which will effectively harvest and thrash any and all kinds of .small grain, such as, for example, lespedeza, so A.that the cost of material, labor and power, ordinarily required for a plurality of operations usually necessary, will be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a harvester combine which will, in one operation, strip the grain heads from their stalks, without' the necessity of cutting the grain, and will forcibly drive the stripped heads through the machine wherein they will be screened and finally deposited, free from chaff, in a grain tank at the rear of the machine, al1 of these operations being accomplished by the use of one source of power in the one machine.

Another object of the invention is to provideY a machine of this nature wherein mechanism isemployed for permitting raising and lowering of the machine for accommodating said machine for harvesting various kinds of grain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a harvester combine which will be extremely light in weight and simple in operation andv which, therefore, may be operated by one man' and a pair of horses, or a tractor.

And as a still further object, the invention seeks to provide a harvester combine which, in View of its simplicity in its construction, will beV relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other and incidental objects of the invention, not mentioned hereinbefore, will become apparent during the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side View of my machine looking at the right side thereof,

Figure! 2 is a side view of the machine looking at the left side thereof,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my improved harvester combine,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical view on the line 5--5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the stripping or thrasher rotor and its cooperating teeth.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference will be seen to designate like parts throughout the various views, the numeral I indicates in general the body of my improved harvester combine. The body I is preferably formed of heavy Vsheet metal and is substantially rectangular in top plan. The body I includes a rear end wall 2 and side walls 3 and 4. A bottom wall' 5 is, of course, provided, and said body has a downwardly olfset top wall 6 which inclines toward the rear end of the body and terminates short of said rear end. As best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, the rear end wall 2 provides one wall of a seed tank l. The bottom wall 5 is extended to dene a bottom wall 8 for the seed tank and said seed tank has a vertically extending inner wall 9 which extends substantially half the height of the body. A closure I is provided for the seed tank I and said closure is swingingly connected to the wall 2 by means of a hinge II. The closure I0 is apertured at I2 and is provided with a screen I3 which allows free entry of air toy within the seed tank so that the seed or grain in the seed tank will be kept in good condition. Also, the aperture I2 permits escape of air from the tank. The closure I0 is provided, medially of its forward edge, with an upstanding handle I4 which permits ready swinging of the closure to opened or closed position. The seed -tank 'l is provided with a discharge opening la which is normally closed by a gate I4b.

As will be clearly seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, the top Wall 6 ext-ends throughout the major portion of the length of the body I and said top wall 6 is curved, at I5, to define a portion of a fan housing I6, at the forward end of the machine. The wall 6 is formed with an extension Il, which extends in parallel relation to the bottom wall 7, and cooperates therewith to dene a mouth for the reception of grain to be thrashed or stripped, in a manner to be described hereinafter. A baille I8 extends downwardly in the same arc with that of the portion I5 and provides additional housing means for thev fan housing I6. The baie I8 has a flange I9 which is secured to the under face of the portion I'I at the junction thereof with the curved portionA I5, by Welding or riveting. The ends of the baffle are Welded to the side wallsI 2 and 3. Formed in the top wall 5 near the curved portion I5 is a vent opening 20. Mounted in the body I and extending from its mid portion toward its rear, and opening into the seed tank 1, is a chute 2 I. The chute 2| is dened by the top Wall 6 and an inclined wall 22 whichhas its forward, or lower end, secured to the bottom wall 1 substantially medially of its length, and its rear or upper end secured to the upper edge of the wall 9. The rear and upper end of the wall 22 and the side of the top Wall B and the inner end of the inclined wall 22 of the chute 2l. Said flanges 25D are also provided for the frame. The screen is,

forward portion of the body l. The plates 49 and .i provide wind doors for the housing I6 and thus allow the fan 2E to be supplied with the necessary amount of air. As stated, the plates 49 and 50 may be shifted to various positions for regulating the amount of air to enter the housing. Said plates will be held in adjusted position by frictional engagement withv adjacent parts of the body.

Attached to the forward end of the bottom wall V'I is a guard 53 which has an upwardly turned lip 54. The guard 53 extends laterally throughout the width of the body and serves to as will be understood, located at the inlet mouth of the chute and will eectively screen any undesirable matter from seed or grain passing from the forward end of the machine into tliechute 2 l Mounted in the body l and 'having its ends journaled in the side walls 3 and 4 is a blower fan 26. The blower fan 26 is mountedon ra shaft 21 and includes a plurality of blades `213 which may be of any suitable number, three bef ine shown- Euileys .29 and 30 are oerriedon the opposite ends .of the sloot N, exterorly of the bOdY- Mounted at the ,forward end .of the body l, and between' the portion I4 and the forwardl end of the bottom wall 5. is o thresner rotor Whieh is shown generally by the numeral it, The thrasher rotor is seen in deiailin Figure 6 of the drawings and includes thrasher blades 32 which are substantially S- sha-pe in contour and are spaced long itud'nally along the hub 33 of ysaid rotor A. ,shaft .3.4. rotoieblymounts the threshing rotor in the forward end of the body, and said shaft is, as best seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, provided with a pair of pulleys 3 5 and 3e which are arranged in horizontally spaced relation to an extension 31 of said shaft 3'4. As shown, the driving pulley 3Q is of slightly greater diameter than the pulley 35. Mountedon the bottom wall at its forward end for cooperation with` the rotor blades 32 are teeth 38 which are arranged in a pair of longitudinally spaced vseries between alternate rotor blades 32. Y.

Mounted at the VV'forward end of thernachine and connected to the forward 'end of the portion I1 is a reel mounting bracket 3 9 which'V hasfaifin's' 4 0 and 4l extending parallel to each other and forwardly above th'e forward end of the" body I. Each of the arms 40 and 4I has an ear 42 through which extend rivets 4 the rear mounting bracket position. Braces 42a extend in proper operativeV the side walls of the body. Mounted onthe bracket 39 in overhanging relation'frwardly of the body i is a reel 43. The ree1f43inc1udes a spool 44 having U-'shaped reel members 45 thereon, said reel members being arranged in; 'an angularly spac d radially exteridinfgfV series. A's clearly seenin nFigure 3 of the drawings, the reel 43 hasl a shaft 46 with its end portions journaled in the arms 4U and 4l of the bracket 39.` A relatively large pulley A v 4B at one side thereof and is rotatably connected with the pulley as by a beit 4 8,

At each side of the housing ls, the body .l is cut-away to dene airy inlets, and these air inlets are closed by plates pivotally connected with the body, as best seen in Figure 4, by studs 5l, The plates @9 and50 are each provided with a laterally directed handle 5.2.. and said. plates are4 also. provided with forwardlyextendng portions twnioneneeee the V'for "appropratelyk securing between the free ends'V ofthe arms`40 and 4I andthe lowerl portions ofY 4 1 is mountedV on the shaft denen@ ai therein.

protect the forward edge of said body. Connected to the forward edge of the side wall 3 and projecting forwardly beneath the arm of the bracket 3S is a guard member 55 which is adapted for protectingpersons Working with the machine from injury with the blades of the rotor of the thrasher. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, vthe body I is provided with a bracket whichv extends laterally in the saine horizgntal enne. with ine bottom wail i-Y `ne braced y1s Subsieniieliy .lf-shaped end. entends oniwenlyier a distance equal to substantially half the width of the nieehiilekefnsi seid bracket is Provided with enfiinsiendm im 'il which is forifieoei its opper i .c

rack 58. Swinginglyfconnected with the arm 51 of the bracket 5 6 nar'the lower endof Ysaid arm is al tongue 53, and mounted on said 'tongue isal doubl'etree assembly be hitehed Mounted on the arm 51 near afpair of horses.-v its upper end is a leverJ 6|,'t'he lei/enhaving. a downwardly extending portion'62 which is pivote ally connected, by a link 63, to afloop. whi mounted on the tongue 59. the` midportionof the bracket 56 and the tongue 59 isa brace rod 65.' Mounted on thelever 6l is a detent sleeve rlhe detent 61 vlias va'tofo'th at its lower end" which is 'engageabl selectively withthe teeth Vof the sextant 58.' By referring" to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be under. stood that, by shifting the leverl with respect'to the arm'5, the( rear end of the tongue Sarnay be swung to raised andlowe'red positions. 1When and the lever 6l is shifted, thev forward'erdff the machine will be rocked to raised or lowered positions, depending upon the 'position of said lever El. In' other words, whenl to its maximum height, the forward portion of the machine will 'be allowedto shiit'upwardly i Whereas,'wnen the leveris' shifted tothe opposite position, the forward portion ofA the machine will' which seat is supported byY a leafgsprin'gltype support 10.

In order to provide power for. Operating,v the fan, reeland thrasher rotor, I provide n mQlQr TI. The motor 'H is mounted on the platfgrm 68 near its forward end and is provided .withfa puuey 1.2. meter', 1l 'is of Conventionardesign andY maybe of vany suitablepower.,

end portion, witnatotneu sextant 66 having a spring actuated pair' 'of 'horses' are connected to. the tr'eei'lbVv i the; lever 6i 'is positioned for raising the rear endof the tongueV 'its rear end. andV IlhasV i been found that a. vmotor oi substandauy te@ horse power will operate in an entirely, satisface tory manner for driving the machine. A belt 13 connects the pulley 12 of the motor 1I with .the pulley 36. It will now be understood that the motor 1| will, through the belt 13 and pulley 36, conduct power to the shaft 3.1. Abelt 14 willv conduct power from the pulley '35 toxthe pulley 29, for driving the fan 26. As heretofore stated, the belt 8 leads power from the pulley 30 to the reel pulley 41, for driving the reel. Thevthrasher rotor is, of course, driven directly from theextension of the shaft 31. The extension 31 is preferably an integral part of the shaft 34. It is believed that the manner of drivin`g the Various rotatable parts of the machine will now Ybe clearly understood.

I provide road wheels 15 and 16 which are mounted on stub shafts 11 and 18. The wheels 15 and 16 are mounted in wheel housings 19 and 88 which are of substantially rectangular formation and are, as best seen in Figure 5, located adjacent the side walls 3 and Il. The wheel housings 19 and B0 are each provided with inner and outer walls 8l and 82. Rigidly connected to the inner walls 8l at their opposite corresponding ends are mounting rods 83 and 84 which rods extend vertically in parallel spaced relation beyond the upper limits of the body. The rods 83 and 84 have their lower ends mounted in sleeves 83a which are mounted on the wheel housings. The mounting rods 83 and 84 are slidably received through arms of vertically alined guide brackets 85 and 88, a pair of which brackets are carried at each side of the body l. The brackets are preferably riveted to the side walls 2 and 3.

Mounted on the wheel housing 19 extending forwardly and inwardly with respect to the body and terminating forwardly of the forward end and beneath the reel is a guard rod 85a.

By referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the rods B3 and 84 are carried at each side of the machine and are located in laterally aligned position so that their upper ends are arranged to provide horizontal supports for a raising frame which is shown generally at 81. The raising frame includes cross members 88 and 89 and cross members 98 and 9i which members 90 and 9i are connected by a bracing strip 92. A mandrel 93 extends laterally of the frame 81 and has a crank 94 connected to one end thereof. Chains 95 connect the mandrel with a cross bar 96 which has end portions 91 connected with the brackets 85 medially of their lengths. seen, the cross bar 98 extends in parallel vertically aligned relation with the mandrel 93. Rotation of the mandrel 93 by the handle or crank 9d will eifect raising of the body l on the rods 83 and 84. A stop rod 98 extends laterally between the side members of the frame 81 and is engageable with the arm of the crank 94 for rotating said crank against unwinding movement past a predetermined set position. The body l may thus be retained in a desired raised or lowered position with respect to the road wheels 15 and 15.

It is thought that the operation of my im proved harvester combine will be understood from the foregoing. A brief discussion of the operation is not thought to be out of place, however. After horses have been hitched to the trees 60 of the machine and said machine is drawn to the field to be harvested, the motor 1I is started and suitable conventional clutch mechanism shown at lla engaged for causing rotation of As will be clearly the pulley 12, it being understood that, previ-J ously, .the lever 6| and mandrel 93 have been adjusted for raising the body to the desired height forvthe grain to be harvested. Rotation of the pulley 12'will cause rotation ofthe blades 32 of the thrasher rotor 3l, and also rotative movement will be conveyed to the fan 36 and to the reel 43. The reel i3v willfeed the grain into `the thrasher rotor, when the knives will strip the grain from the stalks. vThe fan 26 will blow the grain through the screen 24, said screen removing undesired particles, and through the chute 2i into the seed or grain tank 1. 'I'he chaff will be allowed to escape through the opening 20 in the top wall 6.

It is desired particularly to call attention to the fact that: my improved harvester combine will, in one 'operation, harvest the grain, thrash it, and vclean it and convey it to a seed tank, where it may be removed as desired. By the use of my machine,' a plurality of operations heretofore necessary will be eliminated. It is desired again to state that it will not be necessary, when using my machine, to cut the grain stalks.

It is thought that further description of the invention is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a harvester combine, a body, a thrasher rotor carried by the body and having blades, a

blower fan carried by the body, a chute, a seed tank connected with the chute at one end thereof, and a screen mounted in the opposite end of the chute, said blower fan being mounted in the body above and inwardly of the thrasher rotor and being adapted for forcing grain thrashed by the thrasher rotor through the screen and chute into the seed tank.

2. In a harvester combine, a body, a seed tank carried by the body at its rear end, a chute carried by the body and having a discharge mouth opening into the seed tank, a screen mounted in the body forwardly of the chute, a fan housing in the body, a blower fan mounted for rotation in the housing above the fan housing, a thrasher rotor operatively mounted in the body at its forward end, teeth mounted for cooperation with the thrasher rotor, a bracket connected with the body, a reel carried by the bracket, and means for conveying rotatable movement to the reel, thrasher rotor and blower fan, said reel being rotatable for conveying grain vto be harvested past the teeth to the thrasher rotor and said fan being rotatable for blowing thrashed grain from beneath the rotor through the screen and chute to the seed tank.

3. In a harvester combine, a body having a rear end wall and a bottom wall, a seed tank carried by the body and being partially defined by the rear end wall and bottom wall, a closure for the seed tank, an inclined wall in the body, a top wall for the body, said top wall and inclined wall defining a chute, said chute having a discharge opening leading into the seed tank, said top wall being extended forwardly and provided with a curved portion defining a housing, a frame in the body forwardly of the chute, a screen carried on the frame, a baiile connected with the curved portion of the top wall, a fan in the housing, wind doors located at opposite sides of the housing for regulating flow of air to the interior of said housing, a thrasher rotor, means mounting the thrasher rotor in the forward end of the housing, a reel bracket and reel carried by the bracket, a motor carried by the body, and means conveying rotative movement from the motor to the thrasher rotor and thence to the fan vand thence to the reel, said reel being rotatable for .feeding grain to be' thrashed by the thrasher rotor and said blower fan blowing thrashed grain from a point beneath and inwardly .of the rotor through the screen and lehnte into the seed tank.

4. In a harvester combine, a body, a seed tank carried by the body, a chute .carried by the .body and communicating with the seed tank, va thrasher rotor in the body, a fan, .a housing for the fan, a reel, a motor carried by the body, means -for communicating rotative movement from the motor to the thrasher rotor, fan and reel, said reel being rotatable for feeding grain to the thrasher rotor and lsaid blower fan being rotatable for blowing :thrashed grain from `a point beneath the thrasher rotor through the chuteand into the seed tank, road wheels, and

means .for raising and lowering the body with ree spect to the road wheels.

5. In a harvester combine, a body, road wheels@ wheel housings, means rotatably mounting the Wheels in the wheel housings, brackets carried by the body, mounting rods carried by the wheel housings and slidable in the body, a raising frame carried by the upper end of said rods and having side .plates `and cross rods, a mandrel rotatably l0 carried .in said raising frame, a crank on the 

